VILLAGERS in Abbotsbury have branded a proposed £1million traffic management scheme as a waste of time and resources.

Many locals believe more lives could be saved if changes were made on the roads outside the village.

They claim that the roads in the village are already safe.

The changes being proposed for Abbotsbury are part of Dorset County Council’s B3157 coast road project.

Chairman of Abbotsbury Tourism and Traders’ Association Andrew King said virtually every villager is against the proposed changes.

He said: “The main problems are on the local roads between villages, not in Abbotsbury itself.

“I can’t understand why anyone wants to make these changes after all these years.

“It seems like someone’s been taken in by someone else’s great ideas for reduced road markings that are being used in Holland, Ireland or Belgium.”

The scheme includes narrowing the eastbound section of the road near the junction with Glebe Close and adding a 30mph warning sign.

Other proposals include adding pavements outside the Swan Inn and narrowing West Street while adding pavements and traffic calming measures on the western approach to the village.

The project also proposes the removal of double yellow lines at the junction between Rodden Row and Market Street.

Some villagers fear this will encourage drivers to park near the blind junction.

Residents also raised concerns over where the county council’s mobile library, which visits the village for several hours a week, would be able to park if the bus stop in Back Street is removed in order to extend the pavement.

Landlord of Abbotsbury’s Swan Inn, Graham Roper, described the proposals as ‘unpopular’ with locals.

He said: “There was a council meeting held recently at which 28 people voted against the proposals and the general objection people had is that it’s a waste of money.

“People are getting killed in collisions on the B3157 outside the village but no-one’s dying on the roads in the village, so it’s hard to see why these measures are needed.”

Chairman of Abbotbsury Parish Council Henry Ford, who has already advised highways officers on the proposals, said he was surprised by the strength of opposition at the meeting.

He added: “I think there’s a grave concern that what is being proposed will make things worse not better.”

Secretary of the Chesil Bank Group Parish Council Michelle Harding added: “Things like removing the bus stop will leave us with nowhere for the mobile library to park up.

“It seems that the county council wants to take facilities away and it seems like a big waste of money all round.”

Villagers will be able to discuss the proposals with county council highways officers at public consultation drop-in sessions being held between 2pm and 8pm on Wednesday, September 16, at Portesham Village Hall and on the next day at Burton Bradstock Village Hall.